Refuse receptacle



Sept. 21, 1965 M. SAPHIER 3,207,355

REFUSE RECEPTACLE Filed April 10, 1965 INV EN TOR.

I 15 BY Michael Saphier A ATTORNEY United States Patent 0.

3,207,355 REFUSE RECEPTACLE Michael Saphier, New York, N.Y., assignor to Lincoln Metal Products Corporation, Brooklyn, N.Y. Filed Apr 10, 1963, Ser. No. 272,054 3 Claims. (Cl. 22018) This invention relates in general to a refuse receptacle or container, and more specifically, to a novelly constructed off the floor refuse receptacle.

Heretofore, refuse containers available for use in the home and alike comprise essentially of a can or bucket and a cover therefor. Such cans and buckets were placed on the floor at some convenient location in the kitchen. Since many buckets are made of metal and the like, they would generally make unsightly markings on the floor. Also, each time the floor required sweeping, Washing or waxing, it was necessary for the housewife to shift the refuse container from one spot to another. When the bucket required emptying, there also arose the problem of what to do with the cover. All too often the cover would become separated from its container and be subjected to rough handling resulting in bending and denting such that it would no longer properly fit the can or bucket.

Many efforts have been made to eliminate the foregoing inconveniences, however, most of these efforts resulted in relatively costly and complicated structures. Generally, the more popular of the known structures utilized the concept fo providing a refuse receptacle which had an inner removable liner for receiving the refuse. Generally, such refuse containers had the cover hingedly connected to the outer receptacle. To effect operation of the cover of such receptacles, relatively complicated, foot operated, linkage arrangements were provided to effeet the opening of the cover. However, even with these known refuse containers, it was still necessary for the container to be supported on the floor. Consequently, the problem of the container marking the floor and of moving the receptacle from place to place as the floor is cleaned still remains.

Therefore, an object of this invention is to provide a refuse container constructed and arranged so as to be supported off the floor.

Another object of this invention is to provide a refuse container in which the cover therefore is rendered selfstoring when the container is required to be emptied.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a container and cover therefore in which the cover is operatively associated to the means for supporting the container off the floor.

Still another object of this invention is to provide for novel means for effecting the latching and unlatching of the cover with respect to the container portion of the re ceptacle.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an off the floor receptacle having a cover therefor which is spring loaded so as to be normally and automatically urged to its uncovering position when the cover is unlatched.

Another object of this invention is to provide a refuse receptacle in combination with a novelly constructed wall bracket to which the receptacle is detachably connected and supported in an off the floor position.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a wall bracket for supporting the receptacle in an off the floor position with means for optionally securing the wall bracket to a wall with either fasteners and/or adhesives.

In accordance with this invention, the foregoing objects and other features and advantages are attained by a refuse receptacle which comprises essentially of a wall bracket and a refuse container adapted to be detachably connected thereto. The wall bracket is disposed so that the container is spaced above the level of a floor. In accordance with this invention, the wall bracket is provided with means for optionally securing the same to a wall either by means of fasteners and/or by adhesive strips. A cover means for covering and uncovering the container portion of the receptacle is hingedly connected to the wall bracket so as to be rendered self-storing when the container portion of the receptacle is removed for emptying. Means are also provided for latching and unlatching the cover to the container.

Therefore, a feature of this invention resides in a novelly constructed wall bracket to which a container is detachably connected in an off the floor relationship and to which a container cover is hingedly connected for movement between covering and uncovering positions.

Another feature of this invention resides in a novel latching and unlatching mechanism by which the cover is secured to the container.

Another feature of this invention resides in the provision of a refuse receptacle which is relatively simple in construction, relatively inexpensive to fabricate, and positive in operation.

Another feature of this invention resides in the provision that the cover of the refuse receptacle is self-storing in the unlatched position thereof.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent when considered in view of the drawings and specification in which,

FIGURE 1 illustrates a front elevation view of the refuse receptacle in accordance with this invention illustrated with its cover in the open or unlatched position.

FIGURE 2 is a detail showing of the rear elevation view of the refuse container and the wall support therefor with the cover of the receptacle illustrated in its open position.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation view of the refuse receptacle of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIGURE 4 illustrates a perspective view of the refuse container of the instant invention attached to the inside of a cabinet door.

FIGURE 5 is an end elevation view of the wall bracket and cover hingedly connected thereto and with the bucket removed and in which the cover is illustrated in its stowed position.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown therein the improved refuse receptacle 10 constructed and arranged in accordance with the instant invention. Essentially the refuse receptacle comprises a wall bracket 11, a container or bucket 12, detachably connected to the bracket, and a cover 13 forming a closure for the open end of the container. According to this invention the cover 13 is hingedly connected to the wall bracket 11 so as to automatically pivot to its stowed open position when unlatched.

The wall bracket 11 comprises a broad plate member which is provided with a pair of hook shaped lugs 14 formed integral therewith. In the illustrated embodiment the hooks 14 are formed, as for example, by blanking or stamping the same out of the plane of the plate member. As shown, the respective hooks 14 are defined by lugs which project outwardly from the plane of the wall bracket plate and which hooks open upwardly.

Connected adjacent the upper end and lower end of the respective plate, and extending transversely thereof in a recess or groove is an elongated strip of adhesive material 15 which is preferably coated with a layer of a pressure contact cement. A plurality of apertures 16 are also formed in the respective corner of the plate which are adapted for receiving a screw type fastener and the like by which the bracket 11 may be optionally secured to a wall 17. It is then readily noted that the bracket member 11 can be readily secured to a supporting wall structure in either by inserting screw fasteners or the like through the aperture 16 provided therefor, and/or the wall bracket may be adhesively secured by exposing the pressure contact surface of the adhesive strips 15 and by applying pressure thereto adhesively secure the bracket to the wall.

Connected to the upper edge of the bracket 11 is the closure 13 of the receptacle 11. Suitable hinge means 18 are provided for hingedly connecting the cover 13 thereto. A spring means 19 is Operatively associate-d with the hinge means 18 so as to normally bias the cover 13 into it stowed or stored position as seen in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and when it is unlatched as will hereinafter be described.

The container 12 of the receptacle comprises a bucket which is provided with a substantially flat rear wall 12A and a pair of inwardly curving sidewall portions 123 projecting forwardly from the rear wall to define a bucket which is generally triangular in cross section. To facilitate cleaning and washing of the bucket, the corner portion of the triangular configuration are formed generally round. The upper end of the bucket or container is provided with a bead 20 through which a wire 21 is run for reinforcement.

Connected to the rear wall 12A of the container are a pair of hangers 22. Each hanger is defined by a strip bent to define a dove tail channel shaped groove 22A which is adapted to receive the hooks 14 and thereby support the bucket on the wall bracket. The respective hangers 22 are rigidly secured to the back wall of the container by suitable fasteners as, for example, rivets or the like. Thus, as it will be readily apparent from FIGS. 2 and 3 that the container portion of the receptacle can be readily attached and detached to the wall bracket simply by positioning the hangers of the container over the open end hooks of the wall bracket.

To permit the container to hang on the wall bracket in a truly perpendicular manner, the lower edge 11A of the wall bracket is bent outwardly from the wall 17 so as to provide a bumper against which the lower portion of the container rests. Thus, as it will be noted in FIG. 3, the back wall of the container is disposed parallel to the surface of the wall on which it is supported.

A suitable bail handle 23 is pivotally connected to the respective sides of the container 12 so as to facilitate the portage thereof when emptying the container is required.

In accordance with this invention, novel latching means 24 are provided for latching and unlatching the cover to the container. As shown, the leading forward edge of the closure is provided with a hook shaped latch 25 which is pivotally connected thereto. The upper front portion of the container is provided with an opening 26 which is adapted to receive the hook end 25A of the latch 25 as is clearly shown in FIG. 3 to latch the cover closed onto the container. Operatively associated with the latch 25 is an actuator or a push bar 27 which is Operatively connected to the latch 25. A spring 28 is located about the pin 29 which connects the actuator to the catch. The arrangement of the spring is such that the actuator 27 and latch 25 are normally urged to latching position as shown in FIG. 3. Therefore, to open the cover 13, the housewife need only to apply a force on the actuator 27 in a direction to effect a counterclockwise displacement thereof as seen in FIG. 3 about its pivot 29. The latch 25 being operatively connected thereto will also effect a counter- When this occurs, the spring means 19 quired. Thus, from the construction described, it will be readily apparent that the refuse container can be readily detached from the wall bracket supporting the same without having the housewife become concerned as to where the cover is to be positioned when emptying is required. Also, as it is apparent in FIG. 4, the refuse container may be secured to the inner surface of a cabinet door 17' or the like so that when the container is not in use, it can be readily stowed so as to be completely hidden from view. With the invention described, it will be further noted that the receptacle is at all times located off the floor and thus the floor space, otherwise required to be occupied by a refuse receptacle can be utilized for other purposes.

If desired, there may be provided against the inside surface of the cover 13 a suitable compartment or enclosure 30 for holding a suitable disinfectant material. It will be understood that the compartment 30 for containing the disinfectant may be hingedly secured to the inside of the cover so as to provide for ready access for receiving a suitable disinfectant.

To protect the cover 13 against banging against the wall on which it is supported, suitable bumper pads 31 may be secured to the outer surface of the cover as shown in FIG. 3. It will be readily apparent that the refuse receptacle construction of this invention is such that the same may be constructed from any desired material, e.g. plastics, metals, and the like.

The arrangement is such that the wall bracket 11 can be optionally secured to a supporting wall surface 17 either by an adhesive means and/ or by suitable fasteners adapted to penetrate the wall. Also, the arrangement provides for the attaching or detaching the container of the refuse receptacle to and from its supporting bracket with a maximum of ease. The specific construction of the cover is such that it is automatically self storing when the receptacle is desired to be used or emptied. Thus, it will be noted that the housewife need not be concerned with the disposition of the cover whenever it is desired to use the receptacle of the instant invention.

While the instant invention has been disclosed with reference to a particular embodiment, thereof, it is to be appreciated that the invention is not to be taken as limited to all of the details thereof and its modifications and variations thereof may be made Without departing from the sphere or scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An off the floor refuse container comprising:

(a) a wall bracket,

(b) said wall bracket including a plate having a pair of hooks stamped out of the plane of said plate,

(0) a bucket having means for detachably connecting the same on said hooks,

(d) means for securing said bracket to a wall,

(e) said securing means including a strip of adhesive extending transversely of said plate adjacent to top and bottom thereof, I

(f) a portion of said plate below the lower most strip being bent outwardly from the wall to form a bumper for the lower portion of said bucket,

(g) a cover for said bucket,

(h) means for hingedly connecting said cover to the upper portion of said bracket, I

(i) means for releasably latching said cover m operative closed position with respect to said bucket,

(j) said means including a latch pivotally connected to said cover,

(k) an actuator being pivotally connected to said cover, said actuator being operatively associated to said latch to effect displacement thereof when a force is applied to said actuator,

(l) a catch for-med on said bucket for engaging said latch in the closed position of said cover,

(m) and spring means for normally biasing said latch and actuator toward inoperative opposition.

2. An off the floor refuse container comprising:

(a) a wall bracket comprising a plate member,

(b) means for optionally securing said plate to a wall,

(c) said means including a strip of adhesive material extending transversely thereof adjacent the top and bottom thereof,

((1) a pair of hook shaped lugs blanked out of said plate,

(e) a refuse bucket having a relatively flat rear wall portion and (f) inwardly curved side wall portions to define a bucket shape which is generally triangular in crosssection with rounded corners,

(g) a pair of hangers connected to the flat wall of said bucket,

(h) said hanger each being formed of strip bent to define a dove tail channel shape recess having laterally extended flanges,

(i) means for securing the flanges of said strip to said flat wall of the bucket,

(j) said hangers being adapted to detachably support said bucket on the book of said bracket,

(k) a cover for said bucket,

(1) means for hingedly connecting said cover to the upper edge of said wall bracket,

(m) cover spring means operatively associated with said hinge means for normally urging said cover toward its uncovering position,

(n) locking means for maintaing said cover in covering position on said bucket,

(0) said locking means including a latch pivotally mounted on said cover,

(p) a complementary catch means formed on said bucket for receiving said latch,

(q) spring means normally urging said latch into locking position with said catch,

(r) and an actuator connected to said cover and operatively associated with said latch to effect disengagement of said latch from said catch to effect access to said bucket, whereby said cover spring means effect automatic stowing of said cover in the open position thereof' 3. An off the floor refuse container comprising:

(a) a wall bracket,

(b) said wall bracket including a plate having a pair of hooks stamped out of the plane of said plate and projecting forwardly from said plate,

(0) a bucket having means for detachably connecting the back thereof on said hooks,

((1) means for securing said bracket to a supporting wall surface,

(e) a portion of said plate adjacent the lower end thereof being bent forwardly and outwardly from the supporting wall to form a bumper for the lower portion of said bucket,

(f) a cover for said bucket,

(g) means for hingedly connecting said cover to the upper portion of said bracket,

(b) means for releasedly latching said cover in operative closed position with respect to said bucket, (i) said latter means including a latch pivotally connected to said cover,

(i) an actuator being pivotally connected to said cover,

(k) said actuator being operatively associated to said latch to effect displacement thereof when a force is applied to said actuator,

(l) a catch formed on said bucket for engaging said latch in the closed position of said cover,

(m) and spring means for normally biasing said latch actuator toward inoperative position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,001,227 9/61 Long 220-35 FOREIGN PATENTS 210,378 9/57 Australia. 478,091 10/51 Canada. 954,843 1/50 France.

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN OFF THE FLOOR REFUSE CONTAINER COMPRISING: (A) A WALL BRACKET, (B) SAID WALL BRACKET INCLUDING A PLATE HAVING A PAIR OF HOOKS STAMPED OUT OF THE PLANE OF SAID PLATE, (C) A BUCKET HAVING MEANS FOR DETACHABLY CONNECTING THE SAME ON SAID HOOKS, (D) MEANS FOR SECURING SAID BRACKET TO A WALL, (E) SAID SECURING MEANS INCLUDING A STRIP OF ADHESIVE EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF SAID PLATE ADJACENT TO TOP AND BOTTOM THEREOF, (F) A PORTION OF SAID PLATE BELOW THE LOWER MOST STRIP BEING BENT OUTWARDLY FROM THE WALL TO FORM A BUMPER FOR THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID BUCKET, (G) A COVER FOR SAID BUCKET, (H) MEANS FOR HINGEDLY CONNECTING SAID COVER TO THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID BRACKET, (I) MEANS FOR RELEASABLY LATCHING SAID COVER IN OPERATIVE CLOSED POSITION WITH RESPECT TO SAID BUCKET, (J) SAID MEANS INCLUDING A LATCH PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID COVER, (K) AN ACTUATOR BEING PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID COVER, SAID ACTUATOR BEING OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED TO SAID LATCH TO EFFECT DISPLACEMENT THEREOF WHEN A FORCE IS APPLIED TO SAID ACTUATOR, (L) A CATCH FORMED ON SAID BUCKET FOR ENGAGING SAID LATCH IN THE CLOSED POSITION OF SAID COVER, (M) AND SPRING MEANS FOR NORMALLY BIASING SAID LATCH AND ACTUATOR TOWARD INOPERATIVE OPPOSITION. 